Allen-type ratchet wrench



July 2, 1957 G. H. MCGARVIE, .JR 2,797,599

' ALLEN TYPE RATCHET WRENCH Filed March 7, 195e QN Ngs) INVENTOR. T0/65E H. f7" AEV/E Bvd/...w

M (Oo-bu TTOENEYS United States Patent ALLEN-TYPE RATCHET WRENCH George H. McGarvie, Jr., San Antonio, Tex.

Application March 7, 1956, Serial No. 570,191

z Claims. (c1. s171) (Granted under Title 35, U. S. Code (1952), sec. 266) The invention described herein may be manufactured and used by or for the United States Government for governmental purposes without payment to me of any royalty thereon.

This invention relates to an Allen ratchet wrench and more particularly to a type of ratchet adaptable to Allen wrenches which are provided in pairs for screwing and unscrewing Allen nuts located in inaccessible places.

In the usual type of Allen wrench when Allen head nuts and bolts are being removed or installed in close places, it is necessary to turn a wrench as far as possible, remove it to get another hold, then turn it again, continuing this operation until the nut is removed or tightened. This is a very slow and tedious process.

An object of this invention is the provision of an Allen or socket type wrench which does not have to be removed when the handle of the wrench has swung as far as it can be swung in one direction.

A further object of the invention is the provision of an Allen head wrench which holds in one direction and rotates or ratchets in the other, so that removal of the wrench from the Allen head nut at each turn of the wrench is rendered unnecessary.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a pair of Allen or socket type ratchet wrenches, which ratchet in opposite directions and are used, one for installing and the other for removing Allen head nuts.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a specic type of spring retained ratchet which is adaptable for use `on Allen wrenches either for installing or removing Allen head nuts.

In the drawing Figure l is a view of a pair of Allen ratchet wrenches.

Figure 2 is a view partly in elevation and partly in cross section of the installing wrench of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is an exploded view of one of the wrenches shown in Figure l.

Referring more in detail to the drawings and 10' are a pair of Allen Wrenches which are provided with ratchets. These wrenches comprise a set, one wrench 10 for installing Allen head nuts and bolts and 10 for removing them. Handle portions 12 and 12 are hexagonal in cross section, are provided with portions 14 and 14 which are bent substantially at right angles to the body of the handles 12 and 12 respectively. This angle may be varied, as desired, to accommodate variously inaccessible locations of Allen head nuts and bolts.

As shown, these elements of hexagonal formation are provided with chisel ends 16 and 16. However, the invention is not limited to this specific type of tool end. Each wrench has an Allen head nut engaging portion 18 and 18. Each of the portions 14 and 14' is provided with a threaded bore shown at 20 and 26 and an end which is formed with ratchet teeth shown at 22 and 22.

The nut engaging portions 18 and 18 are hexagonal in cross section. They are provided with bores 24 and 24 communicating with the outer end, and a counterbore Shown at 26 which communicates with the inner end.

2,797,599' Patented July 2, 195,7

2 The counterbore 26 is of smaller diameter than the bore 24 forming a shoulderhone of which is shown at 28. The inner ends `of the'members 18 and 18 are provided with ratchet teeth 30 and 30', which are complementary to the ratchet teeth 22 and 22 respectively.` j I Screws 32 and 32 are provided with heads 34 and 34' of such diameter as to slide or journal freely within the bores 24 and 24 and to form seats for compression springs 36 and 36.

The screws 32 and 32' are passed through the springs 36 and 36', sliding through the counterbore as shown at 26 and threaded into the screw threads 20 and 20 in the members 14 and 14'. The heads 34 and 34' and the shoulders indicated at 28 form the seats for the compression springs 36 and 36. The bias of the spring 36 and 36 is in a direction to force engagement of the ratchets.

The Wrenches 10 and 10' are identical in all of their details with the exception of the fact that the ratchet teeth 22, 22', 30 and 30' are of reverse formation. The wrench 10 holds when its handle is swung in a clockwise direction, and ratchets when its handle is turned in a counterclockwise direction. The wrench 10 holds when it is turned in a counterclockwise direction and ratchets when turned in a clockwise direction.

For purposes of exemplitication particular embodiments of the invention have been shown and described accord ing to the best present understanding thereof. However, it will be apparent that many changes and modications in the arrangement and construction of the parts thereof may be resorted to without departing from the true spirit and scope of the invention.

I claim:

l. An Allen-type ratchet wrench comprising a solid integral one piece handle portion, said handle portion including a main body and a section bent substantially at right angles to the main body, said section having a threaded bore, said section being provided at its outer end surface with ratchet teeth, a member having a poly gonal peripheral configuration to engage the bore of an Allen head nut or bolt, said member being provided wit a bore communicating with its outer end and forming a shoulder at its inner end, the inner end of said member having an opening of less diameter than and communicatd ing with said bore, the inner end surface of said member being formed with ratchet teeth complementary to and engageable with the ratchet teeth on said right angularly bent section, a compression spring seated at its inner end on said shoulder, a screw extending through said compression spring and provided with screw threads and a head, said screw threads engageable with said threaded bore, said head being slidable in the bore in said member and providing a seat for said compression spring.

2. In an Allen-type wrench comprising a bar of hexagonal material, a handle portion having an angularly bent extremity, ratchet teeth formed at the outer end of ICC - said bent extremity, an Allen-type head member axially disposed on the outer end of said angularly bent extremity for rotation and having hexagonal side walls contiguous to the hexagonal side walls of said angularly bent extremity for reception into the socket of an Allen type nut or bolt, said head member having -complemental ratchet teeth disposed in ratcheting engagement with the first mentioned ratchet teeth, said head member having a bore therel through, said head member having a restricted concentric counterbore extending inwardly of said member and forming a shoulder in said member, a journal shaft projecting outwardly from the center of said bent extremity and formed with a head at its outer end located within said counterbore, and a compression coil spring surrounding said journal shaft with one end disposed in engagement with the shoulder forined in said member by said counterbore and the other end in engagement with said head on said journal shaft for yieldably urging said complemental ratchet teeth` together.4 1 t References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS FOREIGN PATENTS Great Britain Aug. 17, 1922 Great Britain May 5, 1944 

